Bradford healthcare hero celebrates 52 years of working for the NHS

Qualifying over half a century ago, Savitri Cameron has worked as a mental health nurse, midwife, health visitor and community matron.

Now 72, she is still working in the Community Nursing team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

“Out of 52 years I have spent in the NHS, I have worked at Bradford District Care Trust for 27," Savitri said.

"This is because of the support and nurturing I have received from senior management and for this I want to say a big thank you.

"My colleagues make it a pleasure to come to work every day.

"I’ve seen a lot of changes in my time to how we work and what managers we have, but the culture has never changed. It has always been wonderful.”

Savitri with her manager Carla Smith, Clinical Lead for District Nursing at the Care Trust (Image: Newsquest)

Asked what her most memorable experience during the 52 years has been, she added: "Delivering my first baby – I’ll never forget that.”

James Cooke, Head of Service at the Care Trust said: “Savitri has made an outstanding difference to the families she has provided care for here in Bradford.

"She is a constant inspiration to me and her colleagues who love working with her.

"We can all learn a lot from her generosity and kindness.”

Having been born into a family that experienced poverty first-hand, Savitri’s desire to help those in need has been a life-long passion.

She added: “As one of six, my family struggled to pay my school tuition fees and I walked barefoot to school till I was 14.

"My family took out loans to pay for me to go to the UK for nurse training.

“Poverty had a big impact on me. It pushed me to work hard and gave me the incentive to get on in life."

Savitri at the start of her career (Image: UGC)

Making a big decision to move to the UK at age 20, Savitri landed in Heathrow in 1971 and travelled to a hospital in Scotland to start her mental health nurse training.

“The night charge nurse picked me up from the train station at 11pm when I got there and showed me the nurses’ home.

"The next day I collected my uniform and I’ve worked in the NHS ever since.”

Carla Smith, Clinical Lead for District Nursing at the Care Trust, said: “Savitri is a wonderful mentor to student nurses, trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners and nurses.

"She is always supportive of learners and the thank you cards in her office are a testament to this.

"Her kindness and thoughtfulness of others show in her patient care and her support to colleagues.”

In addition to working for the Trust, in her spare time, Savitri has worked in out-of-hours centres to build her experience.

Her work was recognised in 2000 when staff at the Care Trust nominated her to attend the late Her Majesty the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Now a community matron, the mother of two’s passion to help others has never stopped.

She added: “After retiring twice I came back to work at the Trust both times, initially working part-time but I ended up taking on more hours.

"I am also selling some of my annual leave this year and will donate that money to the Trust’s charity, Better Lives so that they can put it to good use.”

Savitri with Graham Whitfield during Covid (Image: UGC)

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedicated nurse worked overtime in the vaccination centres across Bradford.

She recently vaccinated the very last members of the public at both the Jacobs Well and St Luke’s vaccination centres before they closed.

Graham Whitfield, Site Manager at the vaccination centres said: “Come rain, wind, snow or shine, nothing is too much for Savitri to take on. If she can help, she is always front of the queue to offer it.”

“Away from shifts at the centres, Savitri continues to be a kind-hearted and supportive colleague to all, offering herself as a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen and to give advice to anyone that needs it.  

“I have only known Savitri a fraction of the time she has worked in the NHS, but those two years I will cherish and treasure forever. A true inspiration who I am privileged and proud to call a friend.”